How To Build a Terrarium

Creating a terrarium with live moss and lichen is a fun and easy way to bring a piece of the forest into your home. Here's a detailed guide to help you get started:

1. Gather Your Materials:
- Clear glass or plastic container with a wide opening
- Small rocks or pebbles for drainage
- Activated charcoal (optional)
- Soil (corse, acidic soil is best- do not use soil with fertilizer or other chemical additives)
- Live moss and/or lichen
- Decorative elements such as small figurines or colorful stones (optional)
- Spray bottle for watering

2. Preparation:
- Ensure that the glass container is clean and dry before starting.
- Create a thin layer of small rocks or pebbles at the bottom of the container for drainage. This will prevent water from accumulating at the roots of the plants.
-*Optional- Add a thin layer of activated charcoal on top of the rocks to keep the terrarium environment fresh and free from odors.

3. Adding Soil:
- Gently add a layer of soil on top of the charcoal. Depends on the size of your container,  but 1"-2" should be plenty.

4. Placing Moss and Lichen:
- Carefully arrange the live moss and lichen on top of the soil, creating a landscape that mimics a natural forest floor. You can experiment with different textures and colors to make it visually appealing.

5. Decorate (Optional):
- If desired, add decorative elements such as small figurines or colorful stones to enhance the visual appeal of the terrarium. Be mindful not to overcrowd the space, as the focus should be on the natural beauty of the moss and lichen.

6. Watering:
- Lightly mist the moss and lichen with water using a spray bottle. Avoid overwatering, as moss and lichen prefer slighy moist but not waterlogged conditions. Short periods of drying out are fine, but avoid prolonged periods of excessive watering.

7. Placement and Care:
- Place your terrarium in a location with indirect or filtered sunlight. Direct sunlight may cause the terrarium to overheat and the moss to sunburn.  

- Keep an eye on the moisture level within the terrarium, and mist it lightly whenever the moss and lichen appear dry.

Building a terrarium with live moss and lichen allows you to curate your own miniature forest ecosystem. It's an fun way to bring the magic of nature into your living space.